‘Point of No Return’ if Israel-Hamas Truce Fails, Warns US Envoy to Gaza Board

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to press ahead with establishing settlements in the West Bank, a move that continues to draw significant international criticism. His government, characterized as one of Israel's most right-wing, has accelerated the approval and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, actions widely deemed illegal under international law.

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We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities that we established and legalized together, and 160 farms, with more to come.

Netanyahu addressed an event for settlers, stating, "We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities that we established and legalized together, and 160 farms, with more to come." He further asserted, "You are fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land." He also spoke of preparing the ground for a "very large wave of immigration" to the territory, praising the government's efforts to fulfill "the vision of generations."

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You are fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land.

Israel faces mounting global outrage over its settlement expansion, coinciding with a surge in violence by settlers against Palestinians. Last week, European leaders condemned a major settlement project after Israeli authorities opened bids for over 1,200 homes. The E1 plan, approved last year, is particularly contentious as it threatens the territorial contiguity of the West Bank, further diminishing prospects for a viable independent Palestinian state. Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israelis now reside in settlements alongside approximately three million Palestinians.

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You are preparing the ground for a very large wave of immigration that will come.

Adding to the pressure, 42 US Senate Democrats sent a letter to Netanyahu urging him to rein in settler violence and mass arrests of Palestinians. The lawmakers noted an "increasing level of fatal violence by settlers" and appealed for stepped-up investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens allegedly killed by settlers or security forces since 2022. The letter highlighted a "significant surge" in violence in recent weeks, leading to large-scale responses by Israeli security forces, mass arrests, and reported attacks on mosques.

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a tremendous effort by the government to fulfil the vision of generations